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The Role of Predation in Wildlife Population Dynamics

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The Role of Predation in Wildlife Population Dynamics University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln USDA National Wildlife Research Center - Staff U.S. Department of Agriculture: Animal and Publications Plant Health Inspection Service September 2001 THE ROLE OF PREDATION IN WILDLIFE POPULATION DYNAMICS Eric M. Gese Utah State University, [email protected] Frederick F. Knowlton Utah State University, Logan, UT Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons Gese, Eric M. and Knowlton, Frederick F., "THE ROLE OF PREDATION IN WILDLIFE POPULATION DYNAMICS" (2001). USDA National Wildlife Research Center - Staff Publications. 542. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc/542 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in USDA National Wildlife Research Center - Staff Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. THE ROLE OF PREDATIOS IN WILDLIFE POPULATION DYNAMICS ERIC ?vI. GESE, National Wildlife Research Center, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5295. FREDERICK F. WOWLTON, National Wildlife Research Center, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5295. Abstract: The role predation plays in the dynamics of prey populations is controversial. Our understandings of predator-prey relationships is complicated by a multitude of factors in the environment and a general lack of knowledge of most ecological systems. Various other factors, besides predation, may regulate or limit prey populations, and various factors influence the degree to which predation affects prey populations. Furthermore, some factors may create time lags, or even cause generational effects, that go unnoticed. Herein, we review the role of predation in wildlife population dynamics, some of the factors influencing predator-prey interactions, and attempt to indicate where the professional debate currently is focused and where it may need to go to enhance our understanding of predator-prey interactions. Predation has been defined as on ungulate density. Assessments of the individuals of one species eating living importance that wolf (Canis lupus) individuals of another species (Taylor predation plays in regulating or limiting 1984). The role of predators in the moose (Alces alces) populations varies population dynamics of prey species has among biologists. Interactions among been investigated for decades, yet moose, forage, and climate have been determining whether or not predators limit postulated to determine moose density or regulate a prey population remains (Peterson et al. 1984, Mech et al. 1987, controversial within the scientific Thompson and Peterson 1988). Bergerud et profession (e.g., Erlinge et al. 1984, Kidd al. (1983), Bergemd and Snider (1988), and and Lewis 1987, Newsome et al. 1989, Van Ballenberghe and Ballard (1994) Sinclair 1989, Sinclair et al. 1990, Messier considered predation a major limiting factor 1991, 1994, Skogland 1991, Boutin 1992, of moose because moose density was Pech et al. 1992). Much of the debate generally below forage canying capacity. results from the multitude of competing Messier and CrSte (1985) and Messier variables, including predation, that influence (1991) argued that moose and predator demographics of prey species and the interactions were complex and that the difficulty of conducting large-scale, long- effect of predation varied from density- term studies with some degree of control or dependent to inversely density-dependent replication. In a review of studies involving over the range of moose densities resulting predation on ungulates, Connolly (1978) in population cycles, multiple stable states, reported that 45 studies suggested predation and predator pits. Skozland (1991) was a limiting factor, while 27 studies suggested that ths existin: data was indicarsd predation \vas not a limitin: factor inconclusive with rsgaids to predation Gese, E. M., and F. F. Knowlton. 2001. The role of predation in wildlife population dynamics. Pages 7-25 in The Role of Predator Control as a Tool in Game Management. Edited by T. F. Ginnetr and S. E. Henke. Texas Agricultural Research and Extension Center. San Angelo. Texas. regulating moose, while Boutin (1992) 'attack, capture, or consume' commonly argued that wolf predation as a limiting found within the predation literature. The factor on moose populations was not relationship between the kill rate by a supported. predator and prey density is termed the "functional response." Lotka (1925) and In this paper, we will attempt to Volterra (1926) provided initial provide a foundation on predator-prey mathematical descriptions of predator-prey theory, describe some studies illustrating interactions, which assumed that the number the roles that predators and other variables of prey captured increased in direct can play in the dynamics of wildlife proportion to the number of predators. populations (mainly from the camivore- Nicholson and Bailey (1935) proposed the ungulate literature), and suggest reasons relationship was curvilinear with the kill rate why the debate over the influence predators decreasing as predator satiation sets an have on prey populations continues. It is upper limit to food consumption. not our intent to critically review all Subsequently, Holling (1959) described 3 predator-prey studies, but to use certain types of functional responses (Fig. 1). A studies to illustrate aspects of predator-prey Type I functional response occurs when the relationships. kill rate per predator is directly proportional to prey density. In the Type I1 response, the TERMINOLOGY kill rate is limited at higher prey densities by satiation of the predator, and is thus For our discussions of predator-prey curvilinear. The Type 111 functional relations to be fruitful, we need to clarify response is sigmoid in shape with a lag in some terminology. We also should kill rate at low prey density due to low recognize that many of the initial terms and hunting efficiency or absence of a search early theories concerning the role predators image and an upper limit set by predator play in limiting or regulating prey satiation. Type I1 functional responses have populations were developed by been documented between wolves and entomologists examining relationships moose (Messier 1994; Fig. 2), wolves and between numbers of parasites needed to caribou (Rangifer tarandzrs) (Dale et al. regulate invertebrate pest species on 1994), as well as coyotes (Canis latrans) agricultural crops. The terms regulating and and black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus limiting have often been used calforniczrs) (Stoddart et al. 2001). In interchangeably, with regulation defined as addition to functional responses, Morris et "any density-dependent process that tends to al. (1958) demonstrated a "numerical stabilize population numbers over time. The response" in which predator numbers process that causes the change(s) in increase in response to increasing prey population size is termed limitation" abundance. This numerical response may (Skogland 1991). We consider a limiting be from reproduction or immigation. factor to be any mortality factor that reduces Numerical responses of coyotes to changes the rate of population growth (Ballard et al. in black-tailed jackrabbit (Kno\vlron and 2001). We also will try to adhere to using Stoddart 1992) and snowshoe hare (L. the term 'kill' to denote the essential uniericnnla) abundance (O'Donoghue et a[. component of a predator's impact upon 1997) have been documented- Messier prey, rather than the ambiguous terms (1991) found a numerical response of wolves to changes in moose density (Fig. 3). CONSTRAINTS OF PRED.4TOR AND The combination of the functional and PREY numerical responses represents the "total response." The total response may cause the Evolution has placed constraints of predation rate to be density dependent at both predatory and prey species, with low prey density and inversely density obvious implications for the relationships dependent at high prey density (Holling between them. In general, comparative 1959, Messier 1994). In a compilation of body size, strength, speed, and agility studies, Messier (1994) illustrated the total dictate a predator's ability to kill particular response of wolves to changing moose prey, while similar constraints on prey density. define which predators pose a threat to them. For example, predation by swift Other terms commonly used when foxes (V~rlpesvelo,~) on adult pronghorn describing predator-prey relationships are antelope (A~ltilocnprcramerica~ln) is highly "compensatory" and "additive" mortality. improbable, even though both species Ballard et al. (2001) defined additive occupy the same prairie habitat. Similarly, mortality as occurring when the "additional the body size and defensive capabilities of risk of death does not cause reductions in voles (Microtzrs spp.) are no match for the other forms of mortality, but rather increases size and agility of coyotes, hence voles must overall mortality rate." On the other hand, rely upon other survival strategies. Such for compensatory mortality, the "additional physical and behavioral characteristics, or risk of death causes a reduction in other constraints, have developed over extensive forms of mortality so that overall mortality
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